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09 Oct 2014

A CPIT fashion graduate’s online boutique has won Top Shop Awards for the Canterbury / Upper South Island region.

Pagan Banfield’s store, Pagan Marie Boutique, has taken out the prestigious award of the Online Retailer Category, which is judged by the New Zealand Retail Association, as well as the People's Choice awards.

“We are so excited to have taken out both categories. It’s a really amazing feeling to be acknowledged by other people in the industry,” she says. “My friends and family tell me they love the store but it just feels that little bit more real when it comes from someone completely anonymous.”

Pagan graduated from CPIT in 2009 with a Diploma in Fashion Technology and Design. “I’ve always wanted to work in fashion. Ever since I was young I always studied fabrics or textiles or was pinning random bits of fabric together attempting to make a skirt.”

After graduating, Pagan went straight into a job at Longbeach Apparel in Christchurch. However, she soon was creating an online fashion boutique based out of Christchurch which stocks a range of the latest women’s apparel. “My business basically started off as a hobby I did in my spare time and as it grew I decided to take the plunge and work it on it full time.” She has big plans for the future of her store, moving into new warehousing in November.

“We ship worldwide but our main customer base is New Zealand and Australia. My goal would be to become a household name. That would be pretty awesome for a small local New Zealand business,” she says. “For now we will continue to enjoy the growth we have on our social media platforms and continue to spread our name and rad clothes.”

CPIT Fashion Leader Nicola Chrisp says: “Pagan’s entrepreneurial skills have taken her on a different career path from many graduates. She is leading the way in a field where we expect more and more of our students will follow. We are very proud to see her doing so well.”